Three years ago, I introduced my first Garden Girl scarecrow—a thrifted, whimsical guardian for my veggies. Now, she’s back with a 2025 upgrade, and I’m sharing even more tips to customize yours.
Garden Girl Scarecrow Tutorial – Whimsical & Easy!
Some garden guardians shout ‘Beware!’—but mine? She whispers ‘Welcome’ with a floral apron and a straw hat. Three years ago, I introduced my first Garden Girl scarecrow to the patch, and today she’s evolved into a whole sisterhood of whimsical protectors—each with her own personality (and a few weatherproofing secrets I’ve learned along the way!).
Whether you’re a thrift-store treasure hunter or a cottagecore daydreamer, I’ll show you how to craft a Garden Girl who’s equal parts charm and maybe a touch of pest control… with plenty of room for your own creative twists!
The original scarecrow was a mix of garden supplies that I already had, a couple of things from the thrift store, and inexpensive accessories from Amazon. This year, I bought her an outfit online.
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What You Will Need
Materials for this Project
- 2 pieces of wood for the frame
- tomato cage
- button-down shirt
- apron
- tutu
- straw hat
- garden gloves
- basket
Step 1: Build The Frame
You’ll need:
- 2 pieces of scrap wood (one long, one shorter for the “arms”)
- 1 wood screw
- Drill or screwdriver
How to assemble it:
- Choose your height: Use a long piece of wood for the body—mine was about 5 feet tall, but you can adjust based on your garden’s needs!
- Create the arms: Take a shorter piece of wood and attach it horizontally near the top to form a “T” shape. I used just one screw through both pieces so the arms can still swing freely (this makes dressing her easier later!).
- Leave room for the hat: Position the crosspiece far enough down the body to leave space at the top for attaching a hat or wig.
Pro Tip: If your wood is rough, sand the edges lightly to avoid splinters—especially if kids are helping!
Step 2: Secure Your Scarecrow in the Garden
You’ll need:
- An upside-down tomato cage
- A decorative skirt (I used a brown tutu!)
- A sledgehammer or mallet
How to do it:
- Prep the base: Flip a tomato cage upside down in your chosen garden spot—this helps stabilize the scarecrow and gives her a little “skirt support.”
- Add flair early: Slide a tutu or fabric skirt over the cage before securing the frame (trust me, it’s harder to dress her once she’s standing!).
- Hammer time: Place your wooden frame inside the cage and pound it firmly into the ground with a sledgehammer until it feels sturdy. Wiggle it lightly to test—wind and critters can be sneaky!
Why This Works:
- The tomato cage adds stability and prevents wobbling in breezy weather.
- Pre-dressing the base saves frustration later (learned from experience!).
Pro Tip: For extra support, use a metal or wooden stake alongside the wood.
Step 3: Dressing Your Garden Scarecrow Girl
You’ll Need
Why a Button-Down Shirt Works Best:
- Easy sleeves: A button-down shirt is the simplest way to dress your scarecrow because you can slide the wooden arms through the sleeves without a struggle.
- Adjustable arms: You may need to wiggle or temporarily loosen the crosspiece to get both sleeves on—this is where that single screw comes in handy! (Just tighten it back up once she’s dressed.)
Thrifting Tips for the Perfect Outfit:
- Shirts: My green oxford was a $3 thrift store find—check the men’s section for roomy, sun-faded options with charm!
- Aprons & extras: My local thrift store was out of cute aprons, so I grabbed an affordable 3-pack of floral cottage aprons from Amazon (bonus: I can swap them out if one fades in the sun!).
Pro Tips:
- Weatherproofing: Lightly spray fabric with UV-protectant spray to slow fading.
- Layering: Tie a vintage scarf around her neck or tuck faux flowers into her pocket for extra personality!
Step 4: Accessorize Your Scarecrow (The Fun Part!)
Start With A Hat
- Straw hat: Found mine at the thrift store! Secured it with a small nail hammered through the brim into the wood. (Tip: Angle the nail slightly so wind won’t lift it!).
- Scarf: Instead of using one of my scarves I wrapped crafting mesh ribbon around the hat and tied a knot to keep it on.
Hands & Props:
- Fabric gloves: Slip garden gloves onto the wood arm ends for instant “hands.” (Bonus: You can stuff them with plastic bags to keep their shape!)
- Basket charm: Found a tiny thrifted basket, slid it onto her wrist, and filled it with faux baby’s breath (real flowers would wilt too fast—but swap in seasonal picks like mini pumpkins in fall!).
The Big Reveal: Meet My Whimsical Garden Girl!
How cute is she?? Okay, I’ll admit—my scarecrow probably won’t scare a single critter (she’s too charming for that!). But I have done a double-take while gardening, thinking for a split second that someone was standing there! Mission: Almost accomplished.
Her Cozy Corner:
I tucked her into a little garden nook framed by a piece of vintage fencing I scored at a market last year. Right now, it’s a quiet spot—but just wait! I transplanted pastel yarrows from last year’s garden, added catmint for soft purple spills, and sowed cosmos and sunflower seeds. By mid-summer, she’ll be surrounded by a cottage-style bloom fest!
A Nod to Last Year’s Garden Girl (2024 Edition)
Sometimes, Simple is Sweet!
Let’s take a quick look back at my 2024 scarecrow girl—a testament to the beauty of working with what you already have!
Her Subtle Charm:
- Apron: One of the floral aprons from the 3-pack I’d bought previously (see? Multi-year value!).
- Hat Accent: The same trusty straw hat, but with a fresh twist—a wide lace ribbon and a faux pink peony tucked into the band for a romantic touch.
- Thrifty Magic: No big purchases needed! Just creative reuse (that peony was leftover from a wreath project).
My garden friend also changed locations from the previous year, I added a few more raised beds and expanded my garden. Where she was last year is now a row of tomatoes!
Introducing My 2025 Garden Girl: A Pop of Pink & Florals!
She’s Back—And Bolder Than Ever!
This year, I decided to give my garden girl a vibrant makeover—because why should flowers have all the fun? I splurged a little on a gorgeous floral apron (those ruffles! those tiny pockets!), paired it with a hot pink blouse, and topped it all off with a fresh straw hat and a flirty pink tulle skirt. Move over, roses—there’s a new diva in the garden!
Materials for this Project
What’s New This Year:
- The Apron: A vintage-inspired floral piece with lace trim (worth every penny, it was $18—it’s like she’s ready for a garden tea party!).
- The Color Palette: Pink-on-pink with neutral straw accents for balance. Starting with a hot pink button-down. Pro tip: Bright colors hold up better against green foliage in photos!
- The Tutu Upgrade: Last year’s brown skirt was sweet, but this pink tulle adds playful movement in the breeze.
- Staw Hat: The old straw hat was too weather-worn to be used again so I needed to replace it. I grabbed a kid’s hat with a big bow, and it’s perfect!
Coming Soon…
I’ve planted dusky pink snapdragons, small fuzzy sunflowers, and cream-colored strawflowers around her this year—they’ll complement her outfit perfectly by July.
A Garden Girl for Every Season
From my thrifted-and-thriving 2023 scarecrow to last year’s peony-adorned 2024 version, and now this year’s pink-and-floral 2025 makeover, one thing’s clear: A garden scarecrow is more than just a critter deterrent—she’s a whimsical reflection of your style, your thrifting luck, and even your garden’s mood!
The Best Part?
There’s no wrong way to make one. Whether you splurge on a single perfect apron (no regrets!) or craft an entire look from scraps in your garage, the magic is in creating something charmingly imperfect.
Now It’s Your Turn!
- Which year’s scarecrow is your favorite? (I’m loving the apron on this year’s garden gal!)
- Send in your photos! I’d love to see your spin on these sweet (but not-so-scary) scarecrows and add you to the Reader’s Spotlight gallery. Email them to me at jennifer@cottageonbunkerhill.com
Final Thought:
However you style yours, may she stand proudly among your blooms, surprise you with accidental “company” now and then, and remind you that the best garden decor always has a story.
Happy thrifting, planting, and scarecrow-making!
xo, Jennifer
(P.S. Stay tuned… I’m already plotting her 2026 upgrade. Fairy lights? A mini tool belt? The possibilities are endless!)
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You know I love your pink and floral Garden Girl! I think my raised bed needs one!
You should make teeny ones for the girls!!!
This is just so creative and cute! Sharing on my Saturday share post tomorrow.
Thanks Missy!!
Jennifer
I love her.
You did a fabulous job making your girl scarecrow. She awesome.
Do you leave your scarecrow cottage garden girl out all year or bring her in in the Winter months?
I’ll take her down or she’ll be a frozen snow-scarecrow!Once we get a frost and I’m cleaning up the garden for the season.
Such a cute scarecrow! I love it.
I need someone to talk to, Rachel!! At least she isn’t a wiseguy like my teenager!!
She’s seriously the best! I love what you did here Jennifer! But she’s too cute, it’s hard to think that she can scare anything away.
She scares me sometimes!! But judging by the fox screaming at something by my garden last night I don’t think it’s really working!!
This is too cute! Love her cottagy vibe with the floral apron. Think she’d scare away squirrels? I need one to keep them away;)
I have chipmunks wreaking havoc in my garden and digging up my bean and cuke seeds!! I used to think they were so adorable before I was a gardener!!
She certainly is a cutie and would be great company when you garden, lol!!
Marlene, I need someone to talk to out there!!
Super
Cute idea. I love it.
Thanks, Renae!!
She’s perfect! And giving that cute jacket a little competition…wonder if that will scare away my deer and groundhogs! Worth a try!
You can keep both of them down south!!
Your scarecrow lady is so cute! I tend to only think of scarecrows as decor for fall, and she looks perfect for spring and summer, thanks so much for sharing!
I know! I’ve been wanting to make one for a couple of seasons but never get to it on my project list.
Absolutely love that Peter Rabbit jacket and shoes. I’m on the hunt now for one for my back yard. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Mary! It was really easy to make out of blue felt & fabric glue…I made it last year and even left it out all winter and it still looks good!
What a great idea for the garden! She turned out so fun. I hope it works to keep the critters away!
LOL! They aren’t afraid of a thing around here.